The name was suggested to WOW’s founder and CEO Skúli Mogensen by one of the airline’s pilots following the announcement of the new West Coast route earlier this year.

Speaking to GayIceland, Mogensen said: "WOW air is an airline for the people and one of our most important tasks is to lower fares in order to enable everybody to travel the world and get to know different cultures.

"We wholeheartedly support queer people’s fight for rights, just as we support equal rights for everybody - no matter their gender, religion, ethnicity or culture."

Asked whether he was concerned about others people’s reaction to the bold new aircraft name, WOW’s founder said: "If I were worried or scared of what people might say about me or what I do, then WOW air wouldn’t exist."